Comparison of early outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting between junior and senior surgeons.

Introduction and aim: The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative results in detail in patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without patient selection between junior and senior surgeons and to investigate the adequacy of the 5-year residency training provided in Turkey. Material and methods: Between 2024 and 2025, 514 patients (424 males; mean age: 60 ±9.0 years) who underwent isolated CABG were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A ( Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding basic demographic characteristics, EuroSCORE II, or comorbid diseases. Cross-clamp (XCL) time and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were higher in the junior surgeon group than in the senior surgeon group (median XCL time: 88 vs. 74 min; median CPB time: 140 vs. 121 min, respectively). There were no differences between junior and senior surgeons in any postoperative outcomes, including postoperative exploration, cerebrovascular accident, need for continuous renal replacement therapy, postoperative atrial fibrillation, superficial sternal wound infection, deep sternal wound infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, need for percutaneous coronary intervention, pleural effusion, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation need, tracheostomy, intubation time, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, total mortality, early mortality, and late mortality. Conclusions: In isolated, less complex CABG patients, junior surgeons achieved postoperative early outcomes comparable to those of senior surgeons. Although junior surgeons had longer XCL and CPB times, we did not find any significant differences in clinical outcomes.